Press Release

09/28/2011 5:31 PM ET

Major League Baseball to open 2012 championship season in Japan

Japan Opening Series 2012 to feature Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners at the Tokyo Dome

MLBPA Press Release

Major League Baseball will open its season in Tokyo for the fourth time when the Oakland Athletics take on the Seattle Mariners in Japan Opening Series 2012, a two-game set scheduled for March 28 and 29, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced Wednesday.

Japan Opening Series 2012 will mark the first MLB season opener in Japan since the Boston Red Sox and Athletics played at the Tokyo Dome in 2008. Since 1999, 10 MLB Clubs (Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics) have participated in international openers.

Japan Opening Series 2012 will be dedicated to assisting in the rebuilding efforts across Japan. Major League Baseball, the MLBPA and Yomiuri will announce details regarding their support in the coming weeks. The following is the tentative schedule of events:

Wednesday, March 28 - Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics* - Tokyo Dome
Thursday, March 29 - Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics* - Tokyo Dome*The Athletics will be the home team and the Mariners the visitor for both MLB Championship Season games. Start times will be determined at a later date.

"Major League Baseball is very pleased to give Japanese fans a chance to see the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics, two franchises with great popularity in Japan," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "Opening Series 2012 will be an excellent opportunity to bring the game of baseball to fans across the globe and to celebrate the many contributions to the game by Japanese players. Most importantly, with the shared love of baseball between our nations, I believe that we can use this event to further assist the ongoing relief efforts throughout Japan."

"We are honored to open the 2012 season in Japan. The opening series provides Major League players with an opportunity to use baseball -- a sport cherished and revered by both our nations -- to help our Japanese friends continue their recovery from the devastating tsunami," said MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner. "Major League players look forward to playing before some of the world's most passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans, and we appreciate the support of Nippon Professional Baseball and Yomiuri for helping make this series possible."

"The Seattle Mariners are proud to represent Major League Baseball and open the 2012 regular season in Japan against the Oakland Athletics," said Mariners president Chuck Armstrong. "More Mariners games have been televised in Japan over the past ten years than any other MLB team, so the fans there will be familiar with us. This will be a memorable experience for our players and our organization."

"The Oakland A's are honored and privileged to participate in this season-opening series," said Oakland A's president Michael Crowley. "We were fortunate to make our first visit to Japan in 2008 and still remember fondly the warm reception we received from the fans, the host teams, and the people of Japan. We're very excited about returning next season."

Upon conclusion of Japan Opening Series 2012, the Mariners and Athletics will travel back to the United States to complete an abbreviated exhibition schedule before resuming their Championship Season schedules.

Organizers of Japan Opening Series 2012 include MLB, MLBPA, NPB and Yomiuri. Further details on all of the games and events surrounding Japan Opening Series 2012 will be announced at a later date.